Ross Lonsberry wasn’t the best player in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers. Nor was he the toughest player on the famed Broad Street Bullies that terrorized the NHL in the mid 1970s, which helped them win 2 Stanley Cups. But to teammates, Ross Lonsberry was a player that they needed to hold the team together. Lonsberry passed away after a long battle with cancer on Sunday evening. He was 67 years old.

Born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan in 1947, Lonsberry began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins in 1966, after an outstanding junior career with the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL. Lonsberry struggled to crack the Bruins lineup, Boston traded him to the Los Angeles Kings for two first round draft picks in 1969.

Lonsberry established himself in Southern California, as the expansion Kings were still trying to find their identity. The smooth-skating left-winger recorded back-to-back 20 goal seasons…